4 ELEMENTS

Project logo
Improve the foreign language learning and intercultural competences of adults through e-learning

The project

FOUR ELEMENTS is an initiative called to raise awareness and appreciation of the importance of culture and heritage as well as to train educators working with adult learners who want to improve their skills and competences necessary in today’s EU labour market.

The project will take advantage of the potential of the common European cultural values associated to the 4 elements earth, water, air and fire) to empower adults to improve their digital, foreign language and intercultural competences.

The partnership expects to develop and deliver innovative teaching materials presented in a culturally accessible E-book consisting of European legends and stories – giving visibility to the underlying common EU values and principles, especially adapted to learners with special needs.

To achieved such objectives, partners will develop:

An interactive map: a collection of legends and stories related to earth, water, air and fire, in different EU countries.

Digital Books with national legends and stories related to the four elements.

Methodological recommendations for adult educators.

To find more information, access the Four Elements platform here.

Digital books

The nations of Europe all have rich cultures of myth and folklore which give the different regions their particular individual flavour. Here we have grouped traditional stories from Belgium, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain according to the four elements: earth, air, wind and fire.

They are specially adapted to adult learners and can be used to develop language or ICT skills among your students while enhancing intercultural understanding.

Alongside the stories, this digital book contains interactive exercises and is in Easy Read format. All the material in it can be downloaded and printed. Teachers and trainers will find tips and suggestions for how to use it on the Recommendations section of this site.

European partnership

Four Elements is an Erasmus+ KA204 project designed to highlight the importance of culture and heritage at European Union level. It aims to train educators working with adult learners to enable them to acquire the skills and competences, including linguistic and digital skills and competences, required in the European labour market.

The project is coordinated by : CVO EduKempen (Belgium). The partnership also includes DomSpain Consulting (Spain), The Central Library of Võru County (Estonia), Les Apprimeurs (France), Istituto dei Sordi di Torino (Italy), Slovenian Third Age University (Slovenia), MyArtist (Greece).

Erasmus+ project

Erasmus logo The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Manneken Pis

LEGEND

Main element: Fire

Language of the original: Dutch

Date of origin: The earliest mention of the existence of Manneken Pis can be found in an administrative text, dating from 1451-1452.

Origin of the legend: Brussels (Belgium)

To find more information about the legend, access the Four Elements platform here.

The famous Manneken Pis remains the emblem of the rebellious spirit of the City of Brussels.

In this legend, Manneken Pis is actually the young Duke Godfrey III of Leuven who was tied to an oak tree during battle. When Godfrey was two years old, his father died and two noblemen from the house of Berthout declared war. Godfrey’s guardians asked the Count of Flanders for help. The Count of Flanders agreed, but his troops were unsure, demanding to see who exactly they were fighting for. To satisfy his army, the infant was shown and taken to battle. On the battlefield, Godfrey was placed in a basket that hung from an oak tree as a symbol of encouragement for the troops. And to encourage them the little Godfrey stood up – every now and then – and peed on the heads and fire of the Berthout enemies. Godfrey’s allies won the battle and celebrated in Brussels, where they planted the oak tree. Legend states that this is why the street next to Manneken Pis is named Rue du Chêne, meaning ‘oak street’. And, of course, next to the oak, they erected a statue of the young peeing lord.

Manneken Pis

LEGENDE

Element: Vuur

Originele taal: Nederlands

Datum van ontstaan: The earliest mention of the existence of Manneken Pis can be found in an administrative text, dating from 1451-1452.

Oorsprong van de legende: Brussel (België)

Om meer informatie te vinden over de legende, ga langs deze weg naar het 4elements platform.

In deze legende is Manneken Pis eigenlijk de jonge hertog Godfried III van Leuven die vastgebonden was aan een eik gedurende een oorlog. Toen Godfried twee jaar oud was, stierf zijn vader waarop twee edelenmannen van het Huis van Berthout de oorlog verklaarden. De voogden van Godfried vroegen de Graaf van Vlaanderen om hulp. De Graaf van Vlaanderen stemde toe maar zijn troepen waren onzeker en vroegen om te weten voor wie ze precies gingen vechten. Om zijn leger tevreden te stellen liet de Graaf Godfried zien en nam hem mee naar de oorlog. Godfried werd op het slagveld in een emmer gezet. Deze emmer werd opgehangen aan een eik als symbool ter ondersteuning van de soldaten. En om ze aan te moedigen stond de kleine Godfried – nu en dan – op en plaste op de hoofden en het vuur van de Berthoutse vijanden. De bondgenoten van Godfried wonnen de oorlog en vierden dit in Brussel, waar ze een eik plantten. Volgens de legende is dit de reden waarom de straat naast Mannenken Pis de naam draagt Rue du Chene, of Eikenstraat. En natuurlijk, naast de eik, werd een standbeeld van de jonge pissende edele heer opgerich.

Author, Dimitri Goosens. 2015-12-18. Fans of Flanders: once upon a time: Manneken Pis.